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Best/worst cities for drivers

Personal finance site NerdWallet looked at gas prices, traffic and the availability of parking to rank the best and worst U.S. cities for drivers. Here are the Top 10 for each:

(Worst) 10. Philadelphia -- The City of Brotherly Love's population density of 11,379 people per square mile makes parking a major pain.

9. Portland, Ore. -- Drivers here sit in traffic for almost two full days a year. Gas is also typically more than 15 percent higher than the national average.

8. Honolulu -- Gas is also very price in Honolulu, where traffic from Hawaii's booming tourism industry makes it hard to get around.

7. Oakland, Calif. -- This neighbor of San Francisco is fairly dense in population. Commuters typically spend 61 hours a year stuck in traffic.

6. Washington, D.C. -- With some of the worst traffic in the country, drivers in the nation's capital spend nearly three full days per year stuck on the highway.

5. Boston -- It's lucky Boston has good public transportation, but the layout of its streets are confusing and the city's drivers are known for being aggressive. Drivers here typically sit in traffic 53 hours each year.

4. Los Angeles -- Notoriously terrible for driving, Los Angeles is home to record-long traffic jams since a car is needed to get just about anywhere.

3. San Francisco -- Parking is REALLY hard to find here. San Franciscans also typically spend an average of 61 hours stuck in traffic each year, which can take a toll on your gas budget.

2. Chicago -- Gas here is typically 30 percent higher than the national average, largely due to the city's strict environmental regulations. The Windy City does have the nation's second-largest public transportation though, so residents have plenty of ways to avoid those 51 hours spent in traffic each year.

1. New York -- Just 28 percent of New Yorkers drive to work, and it's easy to see why. The Big Apple has an incredibly high population density at more than 27,000 people per square mile, making parking non-existent in most places. Gas is also pricey if you do decide to get behind the wheel.

(Best) 10. Fresno, Calif. -- A lot of people live in Fresno, but commuters are typically only stuck in traffic about 15 hours per year. Gas prices also tend to hover around the national average.

9. Colorado Springs, Colo. -- This city is relatively stress-free for most drivers. Gas prices are slightly below the national average, parking's not bad and traffic delays average about 26 hours per year per commuter.

8. El Paso, Texas -- Athough tied for the highest traffic delays among the best cities for drivers, El Paso's low cost of living typically makes for cheap gas.

7. Omaha, Neb. -- Gas prices are on the low side here, and Omaha drivers typically spend just one full day stuck in traffic each year.

6. Albuquerque, N.M. -- This New Mexico city gets very little rain, so drivers here don't have to worry about the weather. Gas is cheap, and parking isn't that hard to find.

5. Tulsa, Okla. -- Although drivers here spend an average of 32 hours stuck in traffic each year, low gas prices and a population density of less than 2,000 people per square mile make driving less stressful.

4. Kansas City, Mo. -- With more boulevards than any other city except Paris, commutes in Kansas City are bound to be scenic. The city also has cheap gas prices and a low population density.

3. Wichita, Kan. -- This Kansas city is a driver's paradise with low gas prices, plentiful parking and an average of just 20 hours stuck in traffic each year.

2. Bakersfield, Calif. -- Lodged between Fresno and Los Angeles, Bakersfield an astonishly low amount of traffic. Drivers here spend just 12 hours stuck in traffic each year. Gas prices are a bit higher than the national average, but you won't need to fill up as much without any bad traffic.

1. Raleigh, N.C. -- Gas prices here are more than 10 percent cheaper than the national average. Traffic delays are also moderate at 23 hours per year, making it the best city for drivers, according to NerdWallet.

Click here to read more about the NerdWallet rankings. Find out which U.S. cities have the worst traffic here.

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